In midst of her fight, Leal warns not to wait

By HOMER MARQUEZ hmarquez@hearstnp.com

Published 3:48 am, Monday, October 5, 2015

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In support of battle against breast cancer, Virginia Leal's family held a special softball benefit tournament this past September. From left are Victoria Leal, Robert Leal, Virginia, Maddox Salazar, Vanessa Salazar and Zachary Leal. less

In support of battle against breast cancer, Virginia Leal's family held a special softball benefit tournament this past September. From left are Victoria Leal, Robert Leal, Virginia, Maddox Salazar, Vanessa ... more

In midst of her fight, Leal warns not to wait

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Don't wait.

It's a simple message from a woman anxiously counting the days until her surgery.

"Get it checked right away," said Virginia Leal, who in November will undergo a mastectomy in hopes of removing an aggressive form of cancer from her right breast.

"I'm still battling it right now. I won't know anything until I go under the knife."

Until then, Leal is hoping her story will encourage women not to wait, and get any abnormalities in their bodies checked by a doctor as soon as they can.

A teacher's assistant at Plainview ISD's Estacado Middle School, Leal said she was officially diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2015. However, Leal said the first signs of trouble were apparent several months before.

"I found a lump while I was taking a shower. It was very small, like the size of a pea. That was back in November 2014," Leal said.

Though red flags were waving, the worry was quickly, but understandably, moved to the backburner as Leal was dealing with the failing health of her father, who was battling liver cancer and cirrhosis.

"I had to take care of my dad," Leal said. "Dad was so sick and we were back and forth. He was more important at that time."

A friend and nurse did inspect the lump and advised that it be checked out, however Leal swayed toward the probability that the lump was an infected breast duct.

Leal's father died on Christmas.

In January, Leal said she noticed that the lump had grown significantly.

"It was more visible then what it was when I first detected it," Leal said.

During her regular doctor visit, Leal's premonitions were about to become reality as she was immediately sent to a specialist in Lubbock.

"From then on, it was test after test," Leal said.

"Then I was finally diagnosed with stage two invasive carcinoma cancer.

"I wasn't really in shock, I kind of knew that's what is was."

In a strange way, Leal said she had always sort of knew she would eventually get breast cancer. Leal said for that reason, she was a regular participant in breast cancer awareness and support efforts.

"I thought, I'm going to support that because I feel like I'm going to be one of those people who are going to need that support," Leal said.

Now after a more advanced and aggressive diagnosis, Leal was ordered to undergo 20 weeks of chemotherapy.

"Being that it was so aggressive, they wanted to see if they could go in and shrink it," Leal said.

Once the tumor shrinks, surgeons plan to perform a mastectomy to remove the risk of the cancer spreading.

For Leal, chemotherapy went as smoothly as you could hope for when dealing with such strenuous treatment.

"My first rounds were really hard on me," Leal said. "I had head and body aches. After that, it was fine."

Leal said she is grateful for the support and prayers that have sustained her during this fight.

"My faith, my family and my co-workers, that's what are getting me through this," Leal said.

Her PISD co-workers have held fundraisers to support Leal, and on Sept. 19 her family held a special benefit softball tournament.

With the support and her faith, Leal said she is confident she will be cancer free after the surgery.

"I'm confident. I've had a lot of prayer and that getting me through a lot," Leal said.